Creating a Home Escape Plan and Other Handy Firefighting Tips

July 22, 2014

Create a ﬁre escape plan for your home. Know how you will escape. Draw a ﬂoor plan of your home and identify two ways out from each room. If you live in a two-storey home, ﬁnd a way to escape from the upper level. Check that the windows open freely and that children can easily open each exit. Give special consideration to the needs of elderly people and people with a disability.

Display the escape plan in a central area of your home—such as the fridge or a notice board. Practise your escape plan at least twice a year.

You must be able to escape from your home in the event of ﬁre. When at home, keep a key in the inside deadlock to ensure that you can leave quickly.

Train your family in an evacuation procedure:

follow the escape plan

alert others as you go

when there is smoke, crawl low to get under the smoke

test each door using the back of your hand, if the handle is hot do not open it

close the door as you leave a room to prevent ﬁre and smoke from spreading

never go back inside the house, once out stay out

meet at the assembly area

make sure all the family know how to call the ﬁre service

HANDY TIPS

If your clothes catch on ﬁre, don’t try to run away— this will only make the ﬁre burn hotter and faster. Instead remember to: STOP, DROP and ROLL.

STOP, don’t run as running will make the ﬂames bigger.

DROP to the ground and cover your face with your hands.

ROLL over to smother the ﬂames.

Teach your children this technique so they know what to do if ever their clothing catches alight.

To help someone else whose clothes are on ﬁre, throw a woollen blanket over them to smother the ﬂames.

After the ﬂames are extinguished, cool the burnt area with clean, cold water. Do not attempt to remove melted clothing or other materials from the skin.

Don’t use ice, cotton wool or anything such as butter or ointments on the burn. Seek medical help from a doctor or hospital.

You can further protect your children by selecting ‘low ﬁre danger’ clothing for them; particularly for pyjamas, night gowns and infant sleeping bags.

If a ﬁre starts while cooking, turn off the stove or cover the ﬂame if it is safe to do so.

Utilise a ﬁre extinguisher if available. Otherwise leave the kitchen, close the door and call the Fire Brigade.